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Bangladesh court defers Khaleda Zia's bail hearing till Wednesday

Just Earth News | @justearthnews | 08 May 2018

Bangladesh court defers Khaleda Zia's bail hearing till Wednesday

Dhaka: Bangladesh Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned an appeal hearing against BNP leader Khaleda Zia’s bail in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case till Wednesday, media reports said.

Zia, who had earlier served as the Prime Minister of the Asian nation, is currently  serving a five-year term in prison in connection with the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

The hearing is taking place after the country's Anti-Corruption Commission challenged the High Court’s bail order issued earlier.

"After concluding today’s appeal hearing, the four-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain set tomorrow to resume the hearing of arguments from Khaleda’s side," reported The Daily Star.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan and Attorney General Mahbubey Alam on Tuesday placed their arguments  against the bail order for Zia.

As per The Daily Star report,  Advocate Khurshid Alam argued against Khaleda’s bail saying that she cannot be given bail “due to the gravity of the offences she committed according to charges”.

“The High Court may acquit her in the appeal, and therefore, the Supreme Court need not grant her bail now,"  Attorney General Mahbubey Alam was quoted as saying by the Bangladesh-based newspaper.

In favour of Zia's bail, the argument was placed in the court on her behalf by Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali.

He is scheduled to continue his arguments on Wednesday.

BNP leaders Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Dr Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Amir Khashru Mahmud Chowdhury, and Moyeen Khan were present in the courtroom during Tuesday's proceedings.

Zia was jailed on Feb 8 in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.